Latch mechanism



April 29, 1930.

J. LEDWINKA LATCH MECHANISM Filed March 16,

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2.

. )NVENTOR JQSEPH LEDWINKA ATTORNEY J. LEDWINKA LATCH MECHANISM Ajax-i129, 1930.

Filed March 16, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTCSR JOSEPH LEDWINKA BY 9 RTTORNEY I Patented Apr. 29, 1930 7 which was inherent in cars of the open type.

JOSEPH LEDWINKA, or PHILADELZPKIXTPENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB 'ro EDWARD a. BUDD umurnc'rume couram'r, ,o

POBATION OF PENNSYLVANIA I PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR- LA'I'OH MECHANISM Application filed larch 1c, 1020. Serial No. 95,033.

This invention relates to a latch mechanism adapted to be used in connection with automobile doors and particularly relates to a mechanism of this nature which is especially designed for use in doors of the type to be found in closed automobile bodies, such as the coup, sedan and the like.

One of the chief factors responsible for retarding a more. rapid and general adoption of the closed type of automobile body has been the hitherto unattainable full vision In all closed bodies the usual practice is to provide openings in the upper portions of the doors, which openings were covered, when 1 conditions made it desirable to do so, by win- 'dow panes of glass which were normally housed within the lower portlons of the doors. These window panes were arranged for vertical sliding movement in the doors, by constructing them of a width substantially narrower than the overall width of the door so that jamb rails of suflicient width were rovided to accommodate the latch operatmg spindle which traversed the door from side to side. Such a construction, however, seriously impaired the range of vision which was to be had by the occupants of the car by reason of the wide expanse of opaque materi al at the ed e of the door.

I have su stantially eliminated this blind spot appearing in the-range of vision of the occupants of the car by several differentexpedients, each of which forms the subject matter of copending applications. In each instance I have so designed the latch mechanism that it becomes possible to provide both outside and inside operating mechanisms for the. latch while at the same time a window ane may be used which is substantially equal In width to the overall width of the body of the door. Not only -this, but by reason of my latch constructions it has become possible to use a side rail for the door comprising a stamping of single thickness upon which is adapted to be directly secured or mounted the glass run channel for the window glass. The invention which is described by me in this application is inthe nature of a modification or simplification of my other constructions ,between the inside and outside latc which have for their purpose as in this instance, the attainment of a maximum degree of VlSlOIl with a minimum of opaqueness in that portion of the door frame surrounding the window opening.

Accordingly, it is the general object of my invention to provide an interlockin member operatmg mechanisms, which member crosses the side edge of the path of movement of the window pane thus making possible the provision of a window pane of a width substantiiglly equal to the overall width of the door 1 e A further object of my invention is the provision of an interloekmg member which partakes of an oscillating movement in a transverse vertical plane'without the path of movement of the window pane.

A still further object. of my invention is the provision of a latch bolt which is adapted both for rectilinear sliding movement inwardly of the jamb rail of the door as well as for an oscillating movementin .a vertical plane parallel to the plane of movement of the window pane.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a latch mechanism in which inside and outside" latch opera-ting mechanisms-are arranged to lift the latch bolt from engagement with its keeper in order to open the door, the arrangement being such that the bolt is free to move rectilinearly to a retracted position upon closing the door. 7

Other objects will appear more fully hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is ahorizontal cross section of the j amb rail portion of a door and the associated door post equipped with a latch mechanism according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional perspective view of the i portion of the latch mechanism.

' Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen that the door is comprised of a amb rail 10 of pressed metal having a double Z section, the intermediate arm of which 2 constitutes the rabbet-of the door. The body of the door rail or webis of but the single thickness of the metal. The outer paneling 11 of the door is secured to the outer arm of the Z in the usual manner. The inner panel 12 or lock board has its margin welded or otherwise secured to the inner arin of the 2 section of the rail.

In its closed position the door is disposed with its jamb rail 10 lying against the jamb face of the door post 13 which latter is in general of channel cross section and in a portion of its length at least is provided with a rabbet (not shown) complemental to the rabbet formed by the intermediate arm of the Z section jamb rail of the door. The door post is provided in much the usual manner with a latch bolt keeper 14 having the graduated stops 15 and 16 for holding the door in either partly closed or entirely closed position.

Housed within the lower portion of the door between the inner and outer panels 11 and 12 is the vertically movable glass window 17. The side edges of this window slide in vertically extending lass run channels provided on the interior aces of the side rails of the door. In this particular instance only the jamb rail of the door is shown and it will be seen that one wall of this window receiving channel is formed by the intermediate arm 18 of the Z section jamb rail of the door. The other wall and the base of the channel are formed by means of a small angle member 19 or other relatively thin section, one branch of which is secured, preferably as by welding, directly to the inside face of the jamb rail 10. The over-all depth of the angle. member and of the intermediate armor rabbet of the rail is substantially the same whereby the depth of the glass run channel represents the depth of the opaque projection of this portion of the rail 10. It will thus be seen that a window pane which is substantially equal in width to the width of the door from side rail to side rail thereof may be employed, the opaque proj cation of the window frame of the door being a mimmum.

The door latch mechanism comprises essentially an arrangement of elements which are grouped substantially in the form of a U extending from side to side of the path of latch mechanism which lies on the inside of the path of movement of the window 17 inmovement of the window pane around the side edge thereof. That portion of the door cludes the latch bolt 20 which coacts with the keeper-14 secured to the jamb face of the door post. Inside and outside operating mechanisms are provided for dis-en aging the latch bolt 20 from the keeper 14. y the term inside operating mechanism is meant all that mechanism except the bolt which is located on the inside of the path of movement of the window while by the term outside operating mechanism is meant all that which is located on the outside thereof. The inside operating mechanism includes an oscillating lever 21 which is pivotally mounted u on the inside latch plate 22 by means of a pivot 23. This lever is provided with a reversely turned portion 24 which extends a substantial distance toward the jamb rail of the door thus underlyin' the bolt 20. The bolt 20 is provided wit a slot 25 which extends longitudinally thereof from the extreme end well toward the forward portion thereof thus providing a pair of rearwardly extending arms 26 and 27 which embrace that portion of the pivot pin 23 which lies under the lever 21 and the latch plate 22. Just forward of the pivot pin 23 the latch late is provided with a struck out lip or ta 28 which serves as the rear abutment for a compression spring 29. The forward end of this compression spring seats against the forward wall of the slot 25 such that the latch bolt is normally projected outwardly of the door through a slot 30 which is provided in the jamb rail thereof. This slot 30 which is of elongated form is of substantially greater length than the depth of the latch bolt 20, which latter normally projects through said slot with the bottom thereof resting upon the bottom wall of the slot 30. The latch 1plate 22 is provided with an additional struc out tab or lip 31, which lip overhangs the upper surface of the latch bolt 20 at a point substantially midway between the pivot pin 23 and the jamb rail 10. A compression s ring 32 is disposed with its axis normal to tile upper surface of the latch bolt 20 and with its upper end abutting the struck out tab 31. The spring 32 can be secured to the tab 31 or to the bolt 20 in any suitable manner, as for example,

the lug 31' extending downwardly from the tab 31 within the spring 32 and formed either integrally with the tab or secured thereto. This spring 32 tends normally to force the forward body of the latch bolt 20 downwardly about the pivot pin 23 as an axis, this downward movement being limited by engagement of the under side of the latch bolt with the bottom of the slot 30 in the jamb rail. It is, of course, understood that the portion 24 of the lever 21 which underlies the latch bolt 20 partakes of the downward swinging movement of the latter by reason of the inter-engagement had between the portion 24 and the under surface of the latch bolt. latch bolt 20 the lever 21 is pulled to the left (see Figs. 1 and 3) with the result that the portion thereof which underlies the-latch bolt forwardly of the pivot pin 23 is rotated upwardly carrying with it the latch bolt 20 against the action of the spring 32. This upward lifting movement of the latch belt When it is desiredto liftthe is limited by the engagement of the u per surface of the latch bolt witlnthe top 0 the slot 30, the movement being suflicient, however, to clear the keeper 14 whereupon the door may be opened.

In spite of the fact that the window 17 is substantially equal in width to the over-all width of the body of the door, the bolt 20 may also be operated from the outside of the door by means of an outside latch operating mechanism designated generally 33. This latch operating mechanism 33 comprises a transversely extending horizontally disposedlatch operating spindle 34 having a handle (not shown) on the outside of the door. This spindle 34 passes through the outer anel 11 and is ap ropriately journaled in aock plate 35 of a s ape particularly shown in Fi 4. This lock plate 35 is substantially of U s ape having its bight 36 disposed rearwardly and its outer arm extended inwardly as at 38 and secured by-any appropriate means to the inner face of the jamb rail 10. The spindle 34 which is journaled between the inner and outer arms of the U is provided with a roll-back 39 of generally triangular shape and provided with opposite y extending portions for enga ement with the interlock 40 no matter whet er the handle is turned in clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

The interlock member 40 is that member which serves to operatively interconnect the inside and outside latch operating mocha: nisms without in any manner whatsoever interferin with the free movement of the sliding win ow 17. It will be remembered that the latch operating mechanism in its entirety has been described as being of substantially U shape surrounding the side of the path of movement of the sliding window. Constituting the bight portion of the U shaped latch operating portion is the interlocking member. This interlocking member is preferably a stamping or casting the main body of which lies closely against and is pivoted as at 41 on the jamb rail 10 for oscillating movement in a vertical plane. Extending oppositely from the point of pivotal support 41 are arms 42 and 43 which are adapted for engagement re spectively with the roll-back 39 and the latch bolt 20 as appears clearly in Fig. 1. The arm 42 comprises arearwardly extending por tion 44 in the form of a substantially flat plate underlying the lower surface of the roll-back 39 such that upon actuation of the latter in either clockwise or counter-clockwise direction the late 44 is depressed. The .arm 43 projects through a vertically elongated opening 45 provided in the inner branch of the Z section jam rail so that its extrem ty hes in the rabbeted portion of the rail. As is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4 the extremity ofthe arm 43 is rearwardly offset and the offset ortion provided alon its upper edge wit v a rearwardly turned ange 46. It is thisvflange 46 which engages the under side of that portion of the latch bolt 20 extending outwardly of the jamb rail. By reason of the construction so far described, it will be seen that upon actuation of the roll-back 39 by the outside handle the arm 43 carrying with it the flange 46 is raised which results in the lifting of te latch bolt about its pivot 23 to clear the face 16 of the keeper 14. In order to rovide an adequate clearance for the body 0 the interlocking member 40 in its vertically-oscillating movement the glass run element 19 is cut away in that portion thereof which lies in the path of movement of the member 40 an amount substantially equal to the depth of the slot 45 in the ja-mb rail 10. This is best shown in Fig. 1.

Whenever it is desired to operate the latch from the outside, one has only to operate the spindle 34 in either clockwise or counterclockwise direction whereupon, by reason of the roll-back 39, the interlocking member 40 isoscillated about its pivot 41 in its vertical transverse plane (the extent of the cut away portion of the glass run channel element 19' eing suflicient to permit such movement) with the result that the inner extremity carrying the flange 46 moves upwardly into lifting engagement with the latch bolt 20. At thesame time when it is desired to operate the latch bolt from the inside, one has only to move the lever 21 rearwardly, (that is, to the left) to rotate the latch bolt about-its pivot 23 whereupon the latching end of the bolt is lifted clear of its keeper 14 and the door is free to be opened. Nor does movement of the latch bolt by actuation of the inside lever 21 result in movement of the spindle 24 and in turn the outside operating handle by reason of the independent mounting of the latch bolt and the insider operating lever. When it is desired to close the door at any time, one has only toslam it shut in which case the bolt 20, by reason of the pin and slot connection between the pin 23 and the arms 2627 of the bolt, is retracted against the action of spring 29 whereupon it is ratcheted in place behind either of the faces 15 or 16 of the keeper 14. If desired the bolt may be lifted by either of the inside or outside operating mechanisms, after which the door is closed and the bolt released, the spring 31 tending always to maintain the bolt in horizontal latching position.

The interlocking device 40 is extremely cheap to manufacture consisting of a simple stamping of sheet metal or it may be in the ioo form of a simple casting. It is entirely independent of the glass run channel element 19 and thereby permits that element to be permanently fixed in place.

of the window glass.

I Where I have used herein and in the foling claims the expression a slidin window of a width substantially'equal to t e full width of the door or a similar expression, it has reference more particularly to the relative extent of the door and sliding window at the latch side or the door with which my invention is more particularly concerned.

' Such embodiments of my invention and other modifications as fall within its generic spirit fall withoutquestion within the scope of the ap ended clalms.

What claim as new and useful is 1..A latch mechanism for an automobile door having a sliding window of a width substantially equal to the full width of the body of the door with the side edge thereof in close proximity to the jamb face of the door comprising inside and outside latch-operating devicescarried by the door on opposite sides of the projected path of movement of said sliding window, and operable independently of each other, and an interlocking device extending across the door at the jamb rail substantially opposite the operating devices in a horizontal plane and partaking of a movement of oscillation in the transverse vertical lane in its interlocking function.

- 2. X latch mechanism for an automobile door having a sliding window of a width substantially equal to the full width of the body of the door with the side edge thereof in close proximity to the jamb face of the door comprising inside and outside latch operating devices carried by the door on opposite sides of the projected path of movement of I said sliding windowand operable independently of each other, and an interlocln'ng device extending across a vertical side of the doorsubstantially opposite the operating devices in a horizontal plane and partaking of a movement of oscillation in the transverse vertical plane in its interlocking function.

3. A latch mechanism for an automobile door having a sliding window of a width substantially equal to the full width of the body of the door with. the side edge thereof in close proximity to the jamb face of the door comprising inside and outside latch operating devices carried by the door on opposite sides of the projected path of movement of said sliding window and operable independently of each other, and an interlocking device carried by the side of the door and partaking of a movement of oscillation in the transverse vertical plane in its interlocking function.

4. A latch mechanism for an automobile door having a sliding window of a width substantially equal to the full width of the body of the door with the side edge thereof in close proximity to the jamb face of the door comprising inside and outside operating devices carried by the door on opposite sides of the projected path of movement of said slidin window, and an interlockin device exten ing between the side edge 0 the window and the jamb face of the door and partaking of a movement of oscillation in the transverse vertical plane.

5. A latch mechanism for an automobile door having a sliding window of a width subvices eing provided with a roll-back, and a vertically oscillatable interlocking device having one end thereof in engagement with said roll-back.

6. A latch mechanism for an automobile door having a sliding window of a width substantially equal'to the full width of the body of the door with the side edge thereof in close proximity to the jamb face of the door comprising inside and outside latch operating devices carried by the door on opposite sides of the projected path of movement of said sliding window, a latch bolt operable by one of said latch o crating devices, and a vertically oscillata le interlocking device engaging the other latch operating device for actuation of said latch bolt.

' 7. A latch mechanism for an automobile door having a sliding window of a width substantially equal to the full width of the body of the door com rising inside and outside latch operating evices carried by the door on opposite sides of the projected path of movement of said sliding window, an oscillatable interlocking member between said devices and a latch bolt operable by the said latch operating devices to release it from its keeper, said latch bolt being arranged for relative latching and unlatching movements with respect to its keeper in the horizontal and vertical planes, respectively.

8. A latch mechanism for an automobile door having a sliding window of a width substantially equal to the full width of the body of the door com rising inside and outside latch operating ilevices carried by the door on opposite sides of the plane of move- 1,75aao2 of the door, and a rabbeted frame comprising, inside and outside latch operating devices carried by the door on opposite sides of the projected path of movement of said sliding Window, an oscillatable interlocking device for said operating devices traversing said projected path of movement to one side of the side edge of the Window, and a latch bolt adapted for movement in a vertical plane lying on the inside of and parallel to said projected path of movement, said interlocking device extending through the rabbet' exteriorly of the jamb face of the door to engage the fore part of said latch bolt.

In testimony whereof he hereunto afiixes his signature.

' JOSEPH LEDWINKA. 

